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The Giants are giving serious consideration to moving up to the No. 1 overall pick in next month's draft to select Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning.
Three sources familiar with the Giants situation said the team is convinced about Manning's potential as an NFL star and that the club is willing to trade with the Chargers, who have the first choice. The Giants have the fourth pick.
It is not certain how the Giants would package a deal - whether they would trade away draft picks, players or a combination of both. No trade offer has been made, but talks could heat up at next week's NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. If the Giants make a trade, it will not be at the expense of the team's future, according to a source with knowledge of their situation. In other words, don't expect a blockbuster. "It won't be a matter of selling the farm," the source said.
If the Giants believe the Chargers are asking for too much in a trade, they would remain at No.4 and choose from Iowa tackle Robert Gallery, Miami (Ohio) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger or Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald. There's also a chance they would consider USC sophomore receiver Mike Williams, who entered the draft after a judge ruled in favor of Ohio State sophomore running back Maurice Clarett by allowing him to enter the draft in spite of the NFL's eligibility rules.
Several Giants coaches and front-office executives attended Manning's pro-day workout in New Orleans earlier this month, and all came away impressed. Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, coach Tom Coughlin, offensive coordinator John Hufnagel, quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride and Giants scout Chris Mara made the trip.
The Giants looked at Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub yesterday, and they're scheduled to meet with Roethlisberger today.
Accorsi had no comment about any possible trade. "I'm not going to discuss anything we're considering before or during this draft," he said. "For anybody to read anything into that answer would be inaccurate."
If the Giants do trade up, it would signal the eventual end to Kerry Collins' career with the team; the only uncertainty would be if the Giants keep him for the 2004 season, the final year of Collins' contract. The Giants have indicated they expect Collins to play this season, even if they draft a quarterback.
The Chargers spent yesterday and today with Manning, who had an individual workout and intensive discussions with San Diego officials. Chargers GM A.J. Smith could not be reached for comment, but told Newsday in a recent interview that he had not had any discussions with the Giants - or any team - about a trade for the first overall choice.
The Chargers are in somewhat of a quandary over what to do with the first pick, according to executives from other teams. They are still scarred by the Ryan Leaf fiasco in 1998, when they drafted him with the second overall choice after the Colts grabbed Eli's older brother Peyton Manning. Leaf turned into one of the biggest busts in NFL history. The last time the Chargers traded down from the No. 1 pick - in 2001 - they passed up on a chance to draft Michael Vick, who has shown star quality as the Falcons' quarterback.
The Chargers are also looking at Roethlisberger and N.C. State quarterback Phillip Rivers. If the Giants don't get Manning or Roethlisberger, they will consider taking Rivers in the second round. Many scouts, however, believe Rivers' stock has risen in recent weeks and that he won't last that long.
Cousin signed. The Giants signed Panthers free-agent cornerback Terry Cousin to a three- year deal believed to be worth $2.7 million. The contract includes a $900,000 signing bonus.
Source: news day
Three sources familiar with the Giants situation said the team is convinced about Manning's potential as an NFL star and that the club is willing to trade with the Chargers, who have the first choice. The Giants have the fourth pick.
It is not certain how the Giants would package a deal - whether they would trade away draft picks, players or a combination of both. No trade offer has been made, but talks could heat up at next week's NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. If the Giants make a trade, it will not be at the expense of the team's future, according to a source with knowledge of their situation. In other words, don't expect a blockbuster. "It won't be a matter of selling the farm," the source said.
If the Giants believe the Chargers are asking for too much in a trade, they would remain at No.4 and choose from Iowa tackle Robert Gallery, Miami (Ohio) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger or Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald. There's also a chance they would consider USC sophomore receiver Mike Williams, who entered the draft after a judge ruled in favor of Ohio State sophomore running back Maurice Clarett by allowing him to enter the draft in spite of the NFL's eligibility rules.
Several Giants coaches and front-office executives attended Manning's pro-day workout in New Orleans earlier this month, and all came away impressed. Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, coach Tom Coughlin, offensive coordinator John Hufnagel, quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride and Giants scout Chris Mara made the trip.
The Giants looked at Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub yesterday, and they're scheduled to meet with Roethlisberger today.
Accorsi had no comment about any possible trade. "I'm not going to discuss anything we're considering before or during this draft," he said. "For anybody to read anything into that answer would be inaccurate."
If the Giants do trade up, it would signal the eventual end to Kerry Collins' career with the team; the only uncertainty would be if the Giants keep him for the 2004 season, the final year of Collins' contract. The Giants have indicated they expect Collins to play this season, even if they draft a quarterback.
The Chargers spent yesterday and today with Manning, who had an individual workout and intensive discussions with San Diego officials. Chargers GM A.J. Smith could not be reached for comment, but told Newsday in a recent interview that he had not had any discussions with the Giants - or any team - about a trade for the first overall choice.
The Chargers are in somewhat of a quandary over what to do with the first pick, according to executives from other teams. They are still scarred by the Ryan Leaf fiasco in 1998, when they drafted him with the second overall choice after the Colts grabbed Eli's older brother Peyton Manning. Leaf turned into one of the biggest busts in NFL history. The last time the Chargers traded down from the No. 1 pick - in 2001 - they passed up on a chance to draft Michael Vick, who has shown star quality as the Falcons' quarterback.
The Chargers are also looking at Roethlisberger and N.C. State quarterback Phillip Rivers. If the Giants don't get Manning or Roethlisberger, they will consider taking Rivers in the second round. Many scouts, however, believe Rivers' stock has risen in recent weeks and that he won't last that long.
Cousin signed. The Giants signed Panthers free-agent cornerback Terry Cousin to a three- year deal believed to be worth $2.7 million. The contract includes a $900,000 signing bonus.
Source: news day
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